Conveying apparatus for cartons



p 1955 F. J. HOOFFSTETTER E AL CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR CARTONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1952 ATTORNEY Sept. 20, 1955 HQQFFSTETTER ET AL 2,718,106

CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR CARTONS Filed May 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v y f Y ay w mi. m e mg K/ m e .A w 5 #0 N H mm W Z Y B United States Patent O CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR CARTONS Frank J. Hootfstetter and Harold C. Newberry, Columbus, Ohio Application May 20, 1952, Serial No. 288,911

2 Claims. (Cl. 53-24) This invention relates to apparatus and a method for processing cartons containing merchandise. In general, the invention is described and illustrated herein in connection with a conveyor system constructed and arranged to open the sealed flaps of a carton containing, for example, packages of cigarettes, pass the carton through a machine for stamping the ends of each package in the carton, reseal the carton and return the carton to a predetermined point adjacent to the starting point.

In distributing products, for example, cartons of cigarettes, it is necessary in some States for each package of cigarettes in the carton to bear a prepaid tax receipt before the carton is delivered to the retail dealer. Therefore, the wholesale distributor of such products is required to open the sealed flaps of the carton; stamp the bottom end, i. e., the end of the package opposite to the end to which the Federal revenue stamp is affixed, with the State tax receipt; and reseal the carton.

Machines have been developed which receive the cartons fed in from one side thereof, open the carton, then pass the carton through a mechanism which stamps each package in the carton as required, and then the carton is automatically resealed and discharged from the opposite side of the machine. However, because of the length of each carton, and the necessity for processing a great number of such cartons, it will be readily understood that the described machine and mechanism requires a considerable length of track on each side of the machine to operate with efficiency. The feed end and the discharge end of such a system may thus be separated by from to feet. Consequently, it is customary to use two operators, one to feed cartons in at one end and another to reecive the discharged cartons at the opposite end and stack them for repacking in shipping cases. With such practice, it has-been found that occasionally cartons are fed into the machines faster than the operator can remove them from the discharge end, or the operator may drop or fumble a carton while stacking, and consequently gets behind with respect to the feeding operations. In such an event, the conveyor system must be stopped until this condition has been remedied and results in a loss of time. Furthermore, such operating conditions place the operator on the discharge end of the conveyor under considerable tension, which increases the tendency to fumble or drop the cartons as they are discharged.

One of the objects of the present invention is to remedy these defects by providing apparatus and a method for processing the cartons as described whereby a single operator can handle both the feeding and discharge and stacking operations from one position without having to move from one end of the system another. An advantage resulting from the use of the invention is that the operator does not have to feed and remove cartons simultaneously. F

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus and a method which is adapted to utilize the services of two operators positioned side by side to effect the loading and discharge operations. With such apparatus ice and method, two operators can do more work and with less effort and spillage of cartons in the same period of time than can two operators working under the system heretofore described.

It is also another object of the invention to provide a conveyor system which can be operated by one or more operators and wherein a number of cartons can be fed successively in end to end contact through the opening and metering members, and which stores such cartons in the system until the operator at the discharge end or position is ready to remove the resealed cartons.

An additional object of the invention is to provide apparatus and a methodfor the purposes described, wherein an endless belt is provided which allows the cartons being carried thereon to be halted while the belt continues to travel. A feature of this provision is that a single operator can feed a predetermined number of cartons through the opening and metering members before being required to remove any of the resealed cartons from the system.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the direction of travel of an open carton containing packages of cigarettes can be reversed without changing the upright position of the packages in the carton, and without changing the upright position of the carton relative to other similar cartons, and whereby the leading end of the carton becomes the trailing end when the direction of travel is reversed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide apparatus and a method of the character described adapted for use in a continuously operating system whereby the cartons after being discharged are reversed in their direction of travel and returned to a point close to the point from which they were first fed into the system.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description, the appended claims and the drawings.

In the drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment only of the invention is shown:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a conveyor system constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated at 22 of Fig. 1 and showing an open carton with the flaps folded down and held against the outside thereof by the sides of the discharge chute;

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, taken substantially on the plane indicated at 33 and showing the open carton after it has been discharged from the chute and prior to reversing its direction of travel;

Fig. 4 is a View, similar to Fig. 2, taken substantially on the plane indicated at 4-4 and showing the carton as it passes the gluing mechanism prior to being resealed;

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, taken substantially on the plane indicated at 5--5 and showing the carton after it has been resealed;

Fig. 6 is a partial, perspective view of the conveyor apparatus, as seen from the right end of Fig. 1, and showing a carton in the chute, a carton being discharged from the chute, and a carton being carried away on the belt; and

Fig. 7 is a partial, perspective view showing the cartons as they pass the gluing mechanism and the arms for folding the flaps back down on the top of the cartons.

Referring further to the drawings, in Fig. 1 a table having a plurality of supporting legs is indicated generally at 10.

On top of this table is mounted mechanism of the type described generally in United States Patent No. 2,090,919. This mechanism comprises, in general, a feeding platform 11 for receiving sealed cartons as illustrated at 12, the rear end of one of the cartons being shown at 13. From platform 11 the cartons pass to the machine 15 which is provided with mechanism for slitting the sealed carton and folding back the flaps of the carton to expose the ends of the packages of cigarettes contained therein. The open cartons then are fed through a machine 17, which includes a meter head 18, containing mechanism operating automatically as each carton passes and trips a switch. This mechanism imprints the taX receipt on the bottom of each package as it passes the meter head and records the totals for record purposes. The mechanism and apparatus so far described is well known in the art and will not require further detailed description for that reason.

A chute is supported on the table in an inclined position as shown to receive the open cartons as they are discharged from the meter head 13 in the direction of arrow 19. This chute is constructed with a bottom 21 and side walls 22 and 23 connected thereto, which are substantially the same height as the carton 12, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2. In the preferred construction, the chute is of suflficient length to hold three cartons. However, this feature of the construction may be varied, depending upon the particular operations. The front or receiving end of this chute has its corner portions flared outwardly and away from the sides of the chute, as indicated in Fig. l at 25, to provide a guide surface for engaging the flaps of the carton and guiding them down to the sides of the carton as seen in Fig. 2.

At its lower or discharge end, the chute 20 is provided with an elongated spring element 27 mounted in one side thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This spring element presses against the side of the carton and holds the carton against the opposite side wall 23, as seen in Fig. 2. Thus as the cartons are pushed down the chute from the meter head in end to end contact, the spring element 27 causes each carton to be held stationary momentarily, i. e., retained in the discharge end until sufficient force is built up and exerted by the following cartons to shove the carton free and clear of the chute.

A trough 3% is mounted on the table in a position to receive the carton as it is shot from the end of chute 20. A resiliently mounted arm 37 mounted at the end of the trough provides a stop member for receiving the carton as it is discharged from the end of the chute. This trough is formed with one end thereof cut down, as indicated at 31 in Fig. l, the side walls 32 of the trough being of substantially half, or less, the height of the carton in the upright position in which the carton is received from the chute 20. The flaps of the carton, illustrated at 34 and 35 in Fig. 3, are then free to move outwardly and up to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The side walls 32 are flared outwardly and extend upwardly to substantially the full height of the carton, as shown at 33 in Fig. l and 38 and 39 in Fig. 3. These wall portions are adapted to engage the flaps 34 and 35 in the event they remain pressed down against the sides of the carton, and provide for raising the flaps to the position shown in Fig. 3.

An endless belt 41 extends longitudinally across the top of the table and provides the means upon which the cartons are supported and moved along the trough 30. Roller members, indicated generally at 42 and 43, at each end of the table support the belt. There are also a number of intermediate rollers 4-4 at spaced intervals for supporting the belt. Drive mechanism for the belt comprises an electric motor 45 connected by a belt 46 to the large pulley 47. This pulley carries on the same shaft a small pulley 48 which in turn is connected by the belt 49 to the drive pulley 5 The roller 43 is carried on the same shaft upon which the drive pulley 59 is mounted and is driven thereby. This drive mechanism is sufficient to provide for a belt speed of approximately 70 feet per minute on belt 41. However, it will be understood that other speeds and types of drive mechanism may be used for driving the belt 41 if desired. The means illustrated and described here provides a simple and efficient way for operating the belt 41 in the embodiment shown.

From the end of trough 39 the belt 41 carries the cartons to the gluing mechanism indicated generally at in Fig. 1. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the gluing mechanism includes a glue pot 56 having a knurled roller 57 mounted therein. An arm 58 carried on top of the pot 56 extends in a position to engage the raised short flap 34 of the carton and press it down on top of the roller 5'7 where the underside of the flap receives an application of glue. An arm 59 mounted at the side of the trough provides for pushing the carton over against the opposite side of the trough so that the flap 34 will be guided over the roller 57.

The belt 41 carries the cartons from the gluing mechanism past the arms 61 and 62 mounted on the sides of the trough. Thus, in operation, the arm 61 engages the flap 34 and folds it back down on top of the carton. The arm 62 then engages the flap 35 and folds it down on top of flap 34 as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7. The glued surface of fiap 34 is thus brought into engagement with flap 35 and provides for rescaling the carton.

A roller member 65 provides a stop at the end of the belt 41 for the cartons after they have been rescaled. This roller 65 also facititates removal of the cartons from the belt by the operator. It will be seen from Figs. 1 and 5 that at the discharge end 66 of the trough 34] the side walls of the trough have been reduced in height to about onehalf the height of the carton. The operator is thereby able to grasp the carton and lift it from its position against the roller 65. The carton is then. turned over manually by the operator and placed on a rack, not shown, in a position so that the weight of the packages in the carton can be utilized to press the flaps 34 and 35 together.

From the above description and drawings, it will be readily apparent that a single operator stationed substantially intermediate between the stop member 65 and the gluing mechanism 55 will be in a position to place cartons on the feeding platform 11 and to remove the rescaled cartons from the discharge end of the belt 41. In operation, for example, with the conveyor system designed so that when there is one carton on the platform 12, one carton in the cutter 15, one going through the metering machine 17 and three cartons in the chute 20, the trough 30 and belt 41 from end to end will carry fourteen cartons in end to end contact. The operator may feed in the cartons, e. g., nineteen, and does not have to remove any until this operation is completed. The cartons after passing the arms 61 and 62 move up against the stop roller member 65. The belt 41 continues to move, sliding under the cartons so positioned against member 65. The cartons are thus stored on the conveyor until the operator is ready to lift them from the belt. This construction and arrangement thus eliminates simultaneous feeding and removal operations.

Where the conveyor is to be operated continuously over long periods of time, it may be desirable to utilize the services of two operators standing side by side in the area between the stop member 65 and the feeding platform 12. The cartons can be allowed to remain on the belt against the stop member 65, as previously described, for periods of time sufficient to allow the operator at the discharge end to handle the removal and stacking operations without undue haste. Such arrangement and use of two operators provides for more efficient work and less fatigue than heretofore possible.

From the above description, it will also be apparent that the apparatus and method described and shown herein will accomplish the objects and advantages of the invention as stated. While the forms of embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein constitute preferred forms only, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

We claim:

l. A conveyor system including a feeding platform for receiving sealed cartons in end to end positions, mechanism receiving the sealed cartons from said platform which provides for slitting the sealed cartons and folding back the flaps of each carton to expose the contents therein, mechanism receiving the open cartons from the last said mechanism which imprints data on the contents of the open cartons, a chute supported in a downwardly inclined position relative to said data imprinting mechanism which receives the open cartons as they are discharged from said data imprinting mechanism, said chute having side Walls substantially the same height as the cartons and which have front corner portions flared outwardly and away from said side walls which provide a guide surface for engaging the flaps of each carton to guide said flaps down against the side walls of the cartons, spring means at the lower end of said chute which engages each carton as it moves down the chute to provide for retaining each carton in the lower end of the chute until a following carton shoves it free and clear of the chute, a trough mounted below said chute in a position to receive each carton as it is discharged from the lower end of said chute, said trough having side walls at one end thereof substantially half the height of a carton in the position in which the carton is received from said chute whereby the downwardly folded flaps of the carton are free to move upwardly, an endless belt extending along the bottom of said trough and upon which the cartons are supported toprovide for moving the cartons along the trough, means for engaging the flaps on the cartons as they move along said trough to raise the flaps up and away from the sides of the cartons, gluing mechanism positioned adjacent said trough having an arm extending which engages one of said raised flaps on the cartons as they move along the trough and presses the raised flap down on the gluing mechanism so that it receives an application of glue, means positioned adjacent said trough and beyond said gluing mechanism comprising arms which engage first said flap having glue thereon and folds it back down on the top of the carton and then which engages the other of said flaps and folds it back down on top of the first said flap to provide for resealing the carton, and means for stopping the cartons after they have been resealed at the end of said trough.

2. A conveyor system including a feeding platform for receiving sealed cartons in end to end positions, mechanism receiving the sealed cartons from said platform which provides for slitting the sealed cartons and folding back the flaps of each carton to expose the contents therein, mechanism receiving the open cartons from the last said mechanism which imprints data on the contents of the open cartons, a chute supported in a downwardly inclined position relative to said data imprinting mechanism which receives the open cartons as they are discharged from said data imprinting mechanism, said chute having front corner portions flared outwardly and away from said side walls which provide a guide surface for engaging the flaps of each carton to guide said flaps down against the sidewalls of the cartons, spring means at the lower end of said chute which engages each carton as it moves down the chute to provide for retaining each carton in the lower end of the chute until a following carton shoves it free and clear of the chute, a trough mounted below said chute in a position to receive each carton as it is discharged from the lower end of said chute, an endless belt extending along the bottom of said trough and upon which the cartons are supported to provide for moving the cartons along the trough, means for engaging the flaps on the cartons as they move along said trough to raise the flaps up and away from the sides of the cartons, gluing mechanism positioned adjacent said trough which engages one of said raised flaps on the cartons as they move along the trough and presses the raised flap down on the gluing mechanism so that it receives an application of glue, and means positioned adjacent said trough and beyond said gluing mechanism comprising a pair of arms spaced apart so that one of the arms engages first said flap having glue thereon and presses it down on top of the carton as the carton moves along the trough and the second arm then engages the other of the flaps and presses it down on top of the first said flap to provide for rescaling the carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,289,443 Gorynski Dec. 31, 1918 1,450,354 Clay Apr. 3, 1923 2,090,919 Strother et a1. Aug. 24, 1937 2,136,897 Thayer Nov. 15, 1938 

